After an examination revealed that her worrying had resulted in an ulcer, the woman confided in her doctor, “I’m worried that my worrying about my ulcer will make it worse.” Can you identify with that?

What do you spend your time fretting about? If you are like most people, it is things that you cannot control. Why? Because if you could do something, you would. In his letter to the believers at Philippi, Paul wrote, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;” (Philippians 4:6) Here we have God’s prescription for handling life’s concerns – all of them. Worry about nothing! Pray about everything! Thankful in everything! Sadly, we usually ignore this counsel and wring our hands in despair. Actually, worry is an accusation against the Lord. It is testimony that we do not believe He is able to handle our problems. God created the universe, but I must be responsible for my existence. “Worry about nothing” – the smallest details or the largest crisis. “Pray about everything” – lay absolutely all of life before the throne of grace. “Thankful in everything” – in the good things and the bad things. Our Creator is sovereign over what He made. And He wants us to trust Him to work His plan for our lives. But you say, “It gets unbearable at times.” Yes, and that’s why the Lord gave us the next verse: “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7) We are promised that all things work for our ultimate good. Trusting God is a learned discipline that develops only by practice. You will not just wake up one day and demonstrate trust. It is realized when you step out in faith. What is the result? Peace … incomprehensible and perfect. The peace of God can only be experienced through trust.

Sin cera, Erik

Erik O. Garthe is Associate Pastor at Canton Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.

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